The Penn's Grove record., 1887-10-29

was, because next day, Sam being In
formed promptly vetoed them. The
girls, however, persisted In part, and
even took the pains to call upon Colo
mel Marden to find out just the name or
the lamp, and where 1t was to be
bought. And somehow, the colonel
was so kindly interested, the whole
| plan came out, with SANS stern refu-
sal.
Sam was quick, but he had depended
so much on his ready wits that his
memory was poor. He was careless
and hasty of temper, though speedily
over any outbreak. What he lost on
examinations he made up on recita-
lions, aud his averages were as high as
Arthur's. II he had heavy odds against
him it was equally to Arthur's credit
that the wood box at home was always
well filled, and that the paths about
the modest little parsonage on the other
side Of the common from the big gray
house, were shovelled more clean!y and
more promptly than anywhere else.
June came, and opinion wa divided
among the Academy boys as to which
would win, Arthur Rand or Sam AL
len. The usual examinations were
over and nothing was talked OF but the
decision. AstO the two mostly nearly
concerned they hardly ate or slept In
the momentous time.
The thlrtieth had come. The com
pany too. The big hail could hardly
hold another n Everybody was i'm
patient for the moment after the vale.
dlctory.
That came at last. too. Colonel
Marden had risen, was advancing to
the front of the platform.
He was beginning. Hushl
SIT is difficult to award the prize.
Many have done wei, but there are
two so far ahead and so evenly matched
that l cannot at present decide. I
want to give them a further trial, with,
moreover, a special view to seeing
which has the greater aptitude for the
calling that will be his. During vaca.
tion l propose taking both into my
Office. The decision will be made SO
that the successful one can enter col
lege at the beginning of the term. The
two are Arthur Rand and Sam Allen"
So the expectation and suspense were
over for the time, and In the hubbub
that followed more than one boyish
heart hid Its disappointment.
On the following morning the two
boys appeared at the Probate Office.
Colonel Marden explained briefly the
outlines Of the business and set them
to work. 1t was arranged that one
week one was to c0py-ali papers re-
lating to the registry were duly entered
in the big volumes ranged round one
side OF the fire-proof VAUDEVILLE the
other attended to the more active
duties.
But if Colonel Marden had, been puz.
zled before. he was doably so now, as
the weeks went on and the two young
fellows seemed so well matched.
Arthur never forgot where he p}t a
paper. Sans heart went to his as3Nts
more than ones wien qde.' e..
whereabouts of this OF the other petit
tIon or license. Pleasant and kind as
Colonel Marden invariably was to his
young clerks, both soon found that
there was much about him suggestive
of his military life. He demanded an
exactitude to the minutest detail, an
unquestlonisg obedience to orders, and
was Impatient at the least dereliction
or delay.
Sam was quick at g~rasping the rou-
tine. Arthur, when his week came for
active business, would often sit biting
his pen, afraid to ask about what had
already been thoroughly explained.
Sans prompt Eyes, sir" at any brief
command often GalleD hri"s -.i Of
satisfaction, and his disordered desk a
frown and a glance at the neat array
on Arthur's. Arthur looked nervous
when his turn came to answer the
mail, Sam when 1t was for him to copy
and put away documents. "a place
for everything" he certainly had, but
he changed the place too often for the
rule to be a golden one.
The natural outcome of 1t all was
that there was a quarrel. 1t was a
trifie that was the outward cause. Sam
hung his hat On Arthur's nail. The
latter put his own over it. thereby caus-
ing the new straw, bought by Mandy's
strawberry-picking money, to fall on a
pile of inky rags. Discovery came at
noon.
II say" began Sam Indignantly, 81
call that mean business; you did 1t q
purpose"
ut wouldn't have happened II you
hadn't been SO clumsy with the Ink
BOTTLE" Arthur made answer, calmly.
"I'd rather be clumsy with my hands
than my head,n retorted Sam, thus
u~npleasantly reminded of Colonel Mar
denis silence that morning on finding
a pool of ink on his desk. 81 don't
have to tell anybody to wait till the
colonel comes In OF ask him questions
eternaIly about answering letters"
land I've never sent of a letter of
administration with my own signature
instead Of the judges. Maybe you
think though you're a Judge yourself
already" sneered Arthur.
"I'm Judge of a decent fellow, and
if you don't leave my hat alone in fu-
ture I'll knock yours off your stupid
head" threatened Sam, putting on his
blackened headgear and walking off
with wrath in his heart and a more
settled determination than VI to win,
II only to spite Arthur.
1t lacked but one week OF the two
months and neither boy, reviewing the
time, could tell IL be had the adyant-
age. 1t seemed to both-nay, to all,
, for everybody in town was hanging on
the result-that a straw would turn the
. scale either way, Each kept q watch
on the other, painful in its intensity.
, 1t seemed to be in the very air. Colo
mel Marden, meantime, kept his own
counsel.
Then something happened. The
straw fell. A will disappeared, not to
be found this time, after a brief though
annoying delay, but hopelessly and
finally lost.
} 1t was one of unusual Importance,
and. in response to the many calls to
look at 1t, Colonel Marden could only
produce, with apologies, the copy in
) Sans hand-fatal e~vidence-in the
evils" volume There raj search
and low. Colonel Marden looked an.
noyei, Arthur elated, and Sam down
/. cast. 1t was no use repeating he was
, sure he had replaced the paper, as In.
deed he had kept watch and guard over
his besetting fault the last week. Fol
l once Colonel Marden expressed himself
unreservedly.
= Indicative OF carelessuessthat might